The Individual time trial takes place over a 10-mile course and will start and finish in Clacton. Race organisers say the stage could have a real impact on the overall destination of the race leader's jersey.

It will be the first time that Britain’s premier men’s road cycling event has visited the Tendring district, following on from the Women’s Tour in 2014 and 2015, when stages of the world leading women’s race finished in Clacton and started in Harwich.

Tanya Ferguson, Tendring District Council’s Cabinet Member for Tourism and Culture, said it will be a huge boost for the area.

“We had a fantastic taste of the massive interest generated by hosting the Women’s Tour in both 2014 and 2015. Spectators turned up along the route and supported the race; we had excellent media coverage around the world and it generated significant revenue for our District."

Stage Five will be the longest individual time trial in the OVO Energy Tour of Britain since 2013, when Sir Bradley Wiggins took victory at Knowsley Safari Park. In 2016 World Time Trial Champion Tony Martin won the individual time trial in the race, which took place in Bristol.

The Suffolk Stage of the race. Credit: Tour of Britain

In Suffolk the 183 km stage begins in Newmarket and finishes in Aldeburgh, taking in Mildenhall, Bury St Edmunds, Eye, Framlingham and Woodbridge.

Commenting on the news, Abdul Razaq, Director of Public Health and Protection at Suffolk County Council said it could have health benefits as well as economic ones.

“The race will not only bring people to Suffolk, it will encourage more people to take up cycling and live a more active and healthy lifestyle contributing to our ambition to make Suffolk England’s most active county.”

– Abdul Razaq

Watch Jonathan's chat with Tour of Britain Director, Mick Bennett in Cardiff about the tour coming to the region.